Board of Health

Healthy Lifestyle

Health Commissioner

Health Department

General Information

     

Ohio Department of Health H1N1
Information Line

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
866-800-1404

614-644-6774 Español/Spanish
614-728-5893 Español/Spanish
614-752-5190 Español/Spanish

H1N1 Clinic Schedule

Canton City Health Department H1N1 Planning Site

 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Information Statements:
Inactivated 2009 H1N1 Influenza
Live, Intranasal 2009 H1N1 Influenza

  H1N1 Adverse Event Reporting

 

To view the Health Alert Network (HAN) messages that have been distributed by at least one of the Health Departments in Stark County (Alliance City, Canton City, Massillon City, and/or Stark County, please visit the HAN Messages page.

The Canton City Health Department noted that there have been many incorrect rumors about swine flu. Physicians cannot diagnose swine flu because tests available to them cannot tell the difference between routine seasonal flu, which is continuing to make people sick in Stark County, and swine flu. At present, only the Ohio Department of Health’s Public Health Laboratory can determine if a case is probable, and only CDC can confirm it.

The symptoms of swine flu seem to resemble those of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting as well. Canton City residents experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek health care and treatment. Otherwise, the Health Department recommends at-home care.

The Health Department is advising physicians not to over-prescribe Tamiflu for patients with mild symptoms. Antiviral medications should only be used for people with severe illness and to treat swine flu (or prevent it in those exposed to confirmed or likely cases) among those at risk of complications from flu, such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions. The Health Department will continue to work with medical providers to test flu patients who develop severe illness or are associated with clusters, but does not currently recommend testing for all flu patients.

Eating pork or pork products cannot spread swine flu. The most effective way to lower the risk is for people with fever and either cough or sore throat to stay home.

· All Canton residents should cover their mouths when they cough with their sleeve or a tissue or handkerchief.

· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

· Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

· People with influenza like illness should remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever or signs of fever, without use of fever reducing medicines.

· Stay away from clinics and hospitals unless you have severe symptoms.

School and day care administrators, employers and managers of group living facilities should make sure to do the following to avoid the spread of illness:

· Keep shared spaces clean and well ventilated.

· Group living facilities should separate people who are sick.

· Schools and employers should encourage those who are sick to stay at home, but should not require doctors’ notices to let healthy people return.

Flu epidemics evolve in unpredictable ways; it is impossible to know whether this one will dwindle, remain the same, or surge in coming weeks, and whether the illness will remain mild. Some severe cases are likely in people with underlying risk factors – such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions –the Health Department is watching closely for signs of increased virulence. For facts about influenza, and more information about swine flu, please visit the CDC website at the link above.

 


 

Page last updated: 12-01-2009.